Vice President Kamala Harris has tested positive for COVID-19, the White House announced on Tuesday.
According to the officials, the vice president tested positive on rapid and PCR tests but is not showing symptoms. She will continue working from home.
“She has not been a close contact to the President or First Lady due to their respective recent travel schedules,” said Kirsten Allen, press secretary to the vice president. “She will follow CDC guidelines and the advice of her physicians. The Vice President will return to the White House when she tests negative.”
The vice president recently returned from a weeklong trip to the West coast. She has reportedly not had close contact with President Joe Biden or First Lady Jill Biden since returning to Washington, D.C.
Harris has received both a Moderna COVID-19 vaccination and a booster shot, received in October, according to the Associated Press. She also reportedly received a second booster shot on April 1.
Yesterday I received my second COVID-19 booster shot. We know that getting vaccinated is the best form of protection from this virus and boosters are critical in providing an additional level of protection. If you haven’t received your first booster—do it today.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 2, 2022
Harris last reportedly saw Biden at the Easter Egg Roll on April 18 before leaving for California, returning on Monday.
Harris’ positive test comes just a month after Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff also tested positive for COVID-19.
When I found out I had COVID, I felt so relieved knowing that @VP and I were vaccinated and boosted.
Additional COVID-19 booster shots are now available for people aged 50 and older. I encourage everyone who is eligible to get boosted. Find resources at https://t.co/uEIlQtLojj.— Douglas Emhoff (@SecondGentleman) March 30, 2022
The diagnosis also comes shortly after a number of positive cases following a Washington dinner that included several hundred Democratic leaders, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who later tested positive.
“After testing negative this week, Speaker Pelosi received a positive test result for COVID-19 and is currently asymptomatic,” Drew Hammill, Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, tweeted on April 7.
Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrichs responded to the news by noting, “Pelosi was on stage, unmasked with POTUS yesterday at the postal service reform act bill signing – inches away from him.”
Pelosi was on stage, unmasked with POTUS yesterday at the postal service reform act bill signing – inches away from him https://t.co/Jm27sX4rGL
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) April 7, 2022
Axios noted that other top Democrats — including Attorney General Merrick Garland, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) — have tested positive for coronavirus after they attended the Washington Gridiron Club dinner.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tested positive for Covid today.
She attended a bill signing yesterday afternoon with President Biden, Senator Schumer and others: pic.twitter.com/givju4Mlqb
— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) April 7, 2022
This is a developing story; refresh the page for updates.